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In bacterial meningitis, bacteria reach the meninges by one of two main routes: through the bloodstream (hematogenous spread) or through direct contact between the meninges and either the nasal cavity or the skin. In most cases, meningitis follows invasion of the bloodstream by organisms that live on mucosal surfaces such as the nasal cavity ...
Aseptic meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, a membrane covering the brain and spinal cord, in patients whose cerebral spinal fluid test result is negative with routine bacterial cultures. Aseptic meningitis is caused by viruses , mycobacteria , spirochetes , fungi , medications , and cancer malignancies. [ 1 ]
CSF glucose levels can be useful in distinguishing among causes of meningitis as more than 50% of patients with bacterial meningitis have decreased CSF glucose levels while patients with viral meningitis usually have normal CSF glucose levels. Decrease in glucose levels during a CNS infection is caused due to glycolysis by both white cells and ...
Growth indicated a bacterial meningitis, while no growth indicated another cause denoted "aseptic" meningitis. [1] The most common form of this is viral meningitis. [1] Recent medical advances allows rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing that analyzes the CSF for DNA or RNA. This can quickly determine if there are bacterial or viral ...
The CSF/serum glucose ratio, also known as CSF/blood glucose ratio, is a measurement used to compare CSF glucose and blood sugar. Because many bacteria metabolize glucose, and because the blood–brain barrier minimizes transversal, the ratio can be useful in determining whether there is a bacterial infection in the CSF. The normal ratio is 0.6 ...
A closely related test, CSF total protein is a measurement used to determine the levels of protein in cerebrospinal fluid. [2] [3] It combines the albumin, IgG, and other proteins. It can be useful in distinguishing among causes of Meningitis. It is more likely to be elevated in bacterial meningitis than in viral meningitis.
Cryptococcal meningitis accounts for about 68% of meningitis cases in those with HIV and has a mortality rate of 10-25%, with delays in diagnosis and treatment being especially common and associated with a poor prognosis. [5] The treatment for chronic infectious meningitis is directed at the underlying infectious agent.
A CSF fungal culture can tell if there is a microbiological failure (failure of the fungal infections to treat the infection). CSF fungal culture has a 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis. CSF cell analysis is characterized by increased lymphocytes, reduced protein, and reduced glucose. [19]